New Years Eve & Resolutions

With a traditional family Christmas back at Chateux Borchard seeming far behind us it feels like all one has done for two or three weeks is eat and drink and party.

But it wouldn’t be New Years Eve without a celebration and thankfully Alex & Mikey had invited us both to a dinner party at their home near London Bridge. A 5 course, sit down dinner for 16 guests. It was a delight to be invited to a home instead of feeling the need to go out and face the crowds in the madness of the West End.

Sadly D had to work so I made my way by train to their home and arriving around 745 to be greeted with a bottle glass of Champagne to kick off the celebrations.

Two round tables were dressed perfectly in festive and table wear. Glasses, Crackers and beautiful plates plus littered over the table were little gems and condiments.

Mark, Tony, Lizzie, Phil and Marek were all in the group I already knew and met a few people that I had met at a few of their previous parties.

Once everyone had arrived appetizers of delicious mushroom Paella was served and then we all sat down to the dinner courses. Soup with home made bread, Salmon Bellini’s, Beef Wellington with Dauphinoise Potatoes and finally Eton Mess! Alex did us proud, as always and we all feasted while enjoying wine parings. It was a lovely way to spend an evening in great company.

At just before the midnight hour most of the others went out to Tower Bridge to see if they could see the fireworks, but it was a bit too far away. Meanwhile, Alex and I poured the Champagne and sat and enjoyed the spectacular display over the London Eye in the comfort of their lovely home and sipping some fabulous bubbles.

I couldn’t believe it when it was almost 3AM and Marek and I made our way home. The time had simply flown and it was definitely one of the nicest and most memorable New Years Ever. A huge thanks to Alex & Mikey for their hospitality and even more so to Alex for treating us to such a divine feast!

Now that the New Year is here we all turn our attentions to resolutions and how we wish to aim to better our lives. Like every year, I have made a few of my own, including a healthier lifestyle kick started with a detox for five days I started this morning. How you miss the things you take for granted like milk and caffeine. But I will be fine and in the mean time I wish you a happy and healthy 2012 and hope its your best year yet.